Structural sail with grid members

Abstract

An improved structural sail with grid members appropriately positioned to resist aerodynamic loads.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. As an article of manufacture, a sail, wherein the same comprises a continuous skin member a plurality of panels, including a plurality of corners for said sail; a plurality of pliant grid members in strip form across said panels adheringly and integrally attached to said skin member, said grid members integrally interconnecting with grid members of at least one adjoining panel, said grid members defining a latticework pattern on said skin member, said latticework interconnectingly adjoining a latticework on an adjacent panel, said rid members in said latticework pattern interlockingly bearing a part of a load exerted on said sail and running substantially from luff to leech or from leech to luff. 
     
     
       2. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail has a skin member of a plurality of panels and wherein the sail has cross grid members on said skin member at increased frequency towards the head thereof. 
     
     
       3. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail has only cross grid members from one corner of a panel to another corner of a panel. 
     
     
       4. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail is free of cross grid members about parallel to the foot of the sail. 
     
     
       5. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail includes cross grid members short of the leech. 
     
     
       6. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail is a Genoa sail which has a skin member of a plurality of panels and wherein the sail has cross grid members on said skin member, said cross grid members extending over individual panels and interlocking at least two panels. 
     
     
       7. the sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail is a mainsail which has only cross grid members from one corner of a panel to another corner of a panel. 
     
     
       8. The sail as defined in claim 1, wherein the sail is a mainsail and is free of cross grid members about parallel to the foot of the sail. 
     
     
       9. The sail as defined in claim 8, wherein the sail includes cross grid members short of the leech. 
     
     
       10. The sail as defined in claim 8 wherein the sail has a plurality of structural members along the leech and said grid members run to the innermost structural member closest to the luff.